First Congo," invited the Memphis Urban Sketchers to draw during their worship service this morning and show our sketches at the back of the sanctuary afterwards. They have a ministry position devoted to the arts, ably filled by Mary Button, and they change art installations regularly. We were invited to celebrate the beginning of a season where they focus on the creative spirit of God.

It was a neat invitation, and I enjoyed walking in and seeing so many friends and neighbors there. We sang a couple of neat hymns and had a lovely table service, and otherwise I concentrated on my drawings. I did one longer term watercolor and then did several quicker pen sketches.

Le Mont Royal

Monument to Sir George-Etienne Caertier

Mont Royal was just up the street from our apartment in Montreal.

I never quite got the figure at the top of the monument right.

 People selling things at the base of the monument

View from Belvedere Kondiaronk

View from Belvedere Camillien-Houde

Outside Maison Smith

View from Chalet du Mont-Royal

Cimetiere Mont-Royal

Memphis Farmers Market

 Our group met at the Memphis Farmers Market this morning. It's a marvelous place to sketch, with so much color and vibrancy as well as good friends cruising past every so often. I enjoyed sharing a bench with Tom Pellet, our most prolific sketcher. He's always trying new markers and materials and is generous with his excellent advice.

 As a bonus, I took home an excellent lunch of cherry heirloom tomatoes and a mushroom tart.

Quick Sketches at the Checkout Line

Last fall I sketched checkout lines at various grocery stores.  It was an exercise in quick sketching. Except for one store manager, people ignored me.

Finding Coffee in Montreal

View of our park from Margaret's coffee shop

Margaret had her coffee here in the mornings because it had an ATM, healthy snacks and was across the street from the apartment.

On my first day in Montreal, it was Sunday and Margaret's coffee shop was closed. I found the Padaria Portuguesa open.The coffee was good and they spoke French and Portuguese.

 
So for the next two weeks this is where I had my breakfast of ham & cheese on a fresh baked bun and  chocolate bread. And I got the opportunity to draw the many regulars who had their breakfast here also.

Padaria Portuguesa

view from the bakery

Center of Attention

Otherlands Chairs

When I arrive at Otherlands before the other customers, I often draw the chairs...

and the tables.

People Doing Things at Otherlands

making coffee at Otherlands

 I like to draw people doing things. That is what I do some weekend mornings at Otherlands Coffee Shop

ordering coffee at Otherlands

paying for coffee at Otherlands

playing music at Otherlands

listening to live music at Otherlands

coming & going at Otherlands

doing projects at Otherlands

pontificating at Otherlands

having conversations at Otherlands

trying to get a word in edgewise at Otherlands

thinking at Otherlands

brooding at Otherlands

staying connected at Otherlands

standing at the bar at Otherlands

sitting at the bar at Otherlands

reading the newspaper at Otherlands

reading & watching at Otherlands